Summary of The Weekly Torah Reading:
Parshas Vayera
Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section
is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person "goes up"
to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading.
1st Aliya:
The three angels appear to Avraham and foretell the birth of
Yitzchak. Upon hearing the news, Sarah laughs to herself.
2nd Aliya:
The angels depart to destroy Sodom, and Hashem [G-d] tells Avraham
about His plans for destroying Sodom. Pasuk 18:18-19 proclaims G-d's
confidence in Avraham to teach the world the concept of justice. Avraham
negotiates, unsuccessfully, on behalf of Sodom.
3rd Aliya:
The story of the destruction of Sodom is told. Lot's generosity
to the "two visitors" is rewarded and he, his wife, and only two of their
children are saved from Sodom.
4th Aliya:
Lot's wife looks back upon the destruction of Sedom and dies, and
Lot and his two daughters escape into the mountains. Lot's daughters conspire
to rebuild humankind, and taking advantage of Lot's drunkenness, they become
pregnant from Lot resulting in the birth of Ammon and Moav. Avraham
encounters Abimelech after which Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak in the year
2048.
5th Aliya:
Yishmael and Hagar are forced out of Avraham's home, and an angel
reassures Hagar of Yishmael's destiny.
6th Aliya:
Abimelech and his general Phichol resolve their conflict with
Avraham over water rights, and they "sign" a covenant of peace.
7th Aliya:
In the year 2085, when Avraham was 137 and Yitzchak was 37,
Avraham is commanded to sacrifice Yitzchak. This amazing story heralds the
end of Avraham and Sarah's era, and the beginning of Yitzchak and Rivkah's
era.
Parsha Summary by Rabbi Aron Tendler
